Deadly Truth

by Laney Powell

  Jake broke into it and pulled out a sandwich. He offered the bag around. Silas also took a sandwich, and we ate and talked for most of the afternoon. Part of me wanted to take things further, but I found that I was content being with my guys, enjoying the sense of family that being with them brought. I was in no hurry to go back to school.

  Mid-afternoon, everyone fell asleep. I rested my head on Silas’ stomach. Matty lay on one side of me, and Jake’s head was on my upper leg on the other side. I was surrounded. There was nowhere else I’d rather be. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to relax.

  When I opened my eyes again, Matty was up and stretching. He turned around and smiled when he saw me awake. “This was nice,” he said. “There are nicer ways to spend an afternoon,” his voice took on a sultry tone, “but this isn’t bad substitution.”

  “No it’s not,” I said, feeling ridiculously happy.

  Silas and Jake woke then, and the guys made short work of picking up everything.

  “What are you three doing tonight?” I asked.

  “We have something we have to do,” Silas said before anyone else could answer.

  “We do?” Jake asked.

  “Is this one of those guy things?” I teased.

  “Sort of,” Matty said, glancing at Silas.

  They were keeping something from me. I waited for a moment, to get a better sense of it. Whatever they were doing, they didn’t mean me any harm, so I let it be. They would tell me when they were ready. Today had shown me that.

  While I thought about it, I thought I might go and talk with Madame Karathos. Mulling things over out loud with the guys had given me a few ideas, and I needed to let her know about the guys.

  We walked back to the school, arriving just as it was beginning to get dark. All three of them kissed me goodbye and left together. I watched them go, wondering what they were planning.

  Then I turned to see if I could get some time with Madame Karathos.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jake

  “Okay,” I said as we turned the corner from where we’d left Olivia. “What did I miss?”

  “We’re going to talk to Silverwood,” Silas said.

  “Why? She said he made a choice.”

  “There’s something stopping him,” Silas said.

  “How do you know?” I couldn’t hold back my skepticism.

  “Because I know the guy. He’s got a stick up his ass, and I call him dickhead sometimes, but he’s not a bad guy,” Silas shrugged. “And normally, fae don’t go for us human supernaturals. The fact that he’s sucked face with her a couple of times is weird.”

  “Good weird, or bad weird?” I asked.

  “That’s what we’re going to find out,” Matty said grimly. “Too many people are not behaving normally.”

  “Oh, come on,” I looked at both of them. “You don’t think he’s tied up with a demon?”

  “I think we need to get whatever it is out in the open,” Silas said.

  I sighed. “All right. Try not to be a complete jackass,” I said to my brother.

  “I’m fine,” he replied.

  “Uh, huh. You’re over there breathing fire.”

  “He is my friend,” Silas said mildly. “I’m just saying.”

  We walked to an older part of the dorms, and Silas stopped in front of a door and knocked. After a moment, the door opened to reveal a tall, dark-haired fae.

  “Can I help you?” he asked.

  “Where’s Caspian?” Silas asked.

  “You are?”

  “On his team,” Silas said. “We didn’t see him at the team meeting last night.”

  The dark-haired fae frowned. “I believe he is in the herbal garden, near the school’s vegetable garden.”

  “Thanks, man,” Silas said.

  The fae guy nodded and shut the door.

  “Not very conversational,” Matty remarked.

  “That’s one of the things that makes Caspian different. He likes rugby, likes playing on the team. He’s more open to the rest of the supernatural world.”

  “If they find it so challenging here, why do they come?” I asked.

  “Better to have to put up with things here than to be out of the loop,” Silas said cynically.

  None of us spoke as we walked back out toward the gardens. The herbal garden had both an outdoor bed, and a greenhouse. There was no one in the outdoor area, but I could see a figure moving in the greenhouse.

  Silas opened the greenhouse door and peered in. “He’s here,” he said quietly over his shoulder, and walked in.

  I’d never really looked at Caspian Silverwood outside of the couple of games we’d played against their team. He was tall, and good looking. When he saw us, his expression shifted to surprised.

  “Silas, what brings you here?” he asked, setting down the small trowel he held.

  “You got a couple of minutes? We’d like to talk,” Silas said. “Is there somewhere we can sit?”

  “Of course. Back here,” Caspian’s forehead wrinkled a little.

  I got that he was trying to figure out what the hell we were doing here.

  We all trooped into a small room in the back. Caspian positioned himself against the far wall to the left, leaving the chair and the small bench for the rest of us.

  I chose the wall. Silas and Matty both sat down. I was happy to let Silas drive this—he knew Caspian, and we didn’t. Plus, Matty seemed pissy about the whole thing, so we should both shut up and glare if necessary.

  “What’s going on with you and Olivia Washington?” Silas didn’t beat around the bush.

  “That’s none of your business,” Caspian said. His tone was calm, but his shoulders tensed. I could see it in his posture.

  “Well, it is, because we’re… friends with her, and part of that is making sure she’s safe.”

  “I would not endanger her,” Caspian said.

  “But you have. Every time she sees you, something bad happens,” Matty said.

  Caspian’s eyebrows flew to his perfect hairline. Okay, maybe I was a little envious of his hair. It was perfect. I mean, he was out here playing in the dirt, and there wasn’t a hair out of place.

  “Then perhaps you should speak with Olivia,” Caspian said.

  “We have. That’s why we’re here.”

  “I don’t need to discuss this with you,” Caspian pushed himself off the wall. “I have things to do.”

  “She’s in danger. You know it,” Silas’ voice was quiet.

  Caspian stopped with one foot out the door. He turned. “She is,” he said slowly.

  “Any ideas as to why?” Matty asked.

  “I am going to guess it’s demonic. Not the foolish idea of possession, although I have seen signs of something similar,” Caspian said. “More that whatever is driving this is a demon or demons.”

  “Why?” Silas asked.

  “Because there is a hellway in our school. It comes and goes as it pleases, although it’s not visible most of the time. The entity that she and I encountered recently smelled strongly of brimstone and demon magic. It has an acrid tang,” Caspian replied.

  “It does,” Silas said. “Will you help us?”

  “With what?” Caspian asked.

  “Keep her safe,” I said, speaking for the first time.

  Caspian looked at me, and then my brother. Finally, he settled on Silas. “What is going on here?”

  “What are your thoughts?” Silas asked.

  “I have spoken to Professor Langualiare,” Caspian said, referring to an ancient history professor. The professor didn’t teach many classes, preferring to work with students one on one. “I told him I was interested in finding ways to combat demon incursions. He showed me an entire section of the library dedicated to the study of warding off demons. I’ve been doing some reading.”

  “Can we see the books?” Silas asked.

  “They’re in the book room near the history section,” Caspian said.

  “I didn’t know there was
a book room,” Matty replied.

  “Professor Langualiare gave me the spell it’s keyed with,” Caspian said slowly.

  “Then take us there,” Silas got up.

  Caspian didn’t reply for so long I figured he was going to tell us to piss off, but finally he nodded.

  No one spoke as we walked back toward the main building where the library was housed. The damage done by the fire last month had been mostly repaired, outside of the stained-glass windows. They were old, and not easily fixed, even with magic.

  Caspian walked into the library, nodding at the older witch at the desk. She smiled at him and went back to her work.

  I wondered what it was that kept him from spending time with Olivia. She knew about his interest and returned it. She’d even told us about him when she told us that we were all going to be with her. So what was stopping him?

  Not that I didn’t understand and feel for the guy. I couldn’t believe when I’d met Olivia—the way I’d felt when I saw her in the doorway of our room. I’d been bowled over, like I’d walked in front of a train or something. I’d been lucky I managed to speak. There was something about her—she glowed, like she had a light within.

  And she’d been there to see my brother. I’d never, in all my life, been jealous of him. He was my best friend, my favorite person in the world. That was the closest I’d been to full on envy. Well, now I could add Caspian Silverwood’s hair. It had a life of its own.

  When I realized that I’d get to be with Olivia, and not completely screw up my relationship with my brother, there was nothing else I could ask for. I liked Silas, too. I felt like we were a team. Not just because we all cared for Olivia, but because we got along.

  How would Caspian fit into that, I wondered? Would he even want to?

  Caspian led us into one of the older sections, and then at a bookcase back by a window, there was a small door. He spoke quietly, his hand on the lock, and the door clicked open.

  Once inside, it was obvious this had been a research room. There were two long tables, with four chairs on either side. Waist high shelves were along one wall, mostly empty but for stacks of paper, and pens. There were also a couple of pairs of white cotton gloves, and a magnifying glass.

  Matty had gone instantly to one table that had a number of books lying on it, some open. “You weren’t kidding. These are old.”

  “Yes,” Caspian said. “Now tell me why you’re so interested on behalf of Olivia Washington.”

  All three of us looked at each other.

  “That’s not our story to tell,” Matty said.

  I didn’t expect him to say that, but it was the right thing to say.

  “Then whose is it?” Caspian folded his arms across his chest.

  “It’s Olivia’s,” I said. “And she can tell you when she chooses to.”

  “Then I must respectfully decline any further help,” Caspian said. “I don’t go into situations blind.”

  “Jake’s not just giving you a line,” Silas said. “It’s not our story to tell.”

  “I’m sorry,” Caspian shook his head. “You’ll need to leave.”

  “I thought you wanted to keep Olivia safe,” Matty said.

  “I do,” Caspian’s reply was instant. “But I must know the entirety of what I’m dealing with.”

  Matty shrugged. “All right then. If you don’t want to help, that’s on you. You’re full of shit to say you’re wanting to keep her safe, but that’s your shit to carry.” He walked to the door. “I’m out of here.”

  “All you need to do is trust me,” Caspian said. There was visible strain on his face.

  “I could say the same,” Matty said. “You know, since we supposedly all want the same thing.”

  He and Caspian stared at one another.

  Matty made a noise of disgust. “Fine, Silverwood. All talk, no action.” He opened the door.

  “I thought you meant it when you said you cared about her, man,” Silas said, getting up to follow Matty.

  “I’ve already saved her twice,” Caspian said quietly.

  “We know,” I said. “Not sure why you’re bailing on this one.” I walked away from where I’d been looking over the books.

  “I can’t let anything happen to her,” Caspian’s voice was so quiet I almost missed it.

  Turning around, I said “Then help us. If you do actually care.” It was a challenge, and I knew it. Silas had said something was stopping Caspian from doing what he wanted, and in this moment, I knew Silas was one hundred percent right. The fae was tortured.

  “I can’t let anything happen to her. Not Olivia,” Caspian said, refusing to look at us. When he looked up, there was pain in his eyes. “You have to tell me why you’re doing this.”

  “I’m going to get Olivia,” Matty said. “You two wait here. Because we’re not kidding. This is Olivia’s story, and I’m not betraying her.” He walked out the door, leaving me and Silas to wait out this awkward as hell situation.

  Although I wondered what kind of reception Matty was going to get when he went to Olivia and told her that we’d piled onto Caspian—maybe we didn’t get the short end of the stick.

  I started to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Silas asked as he sat down and tipped back onto two legs in one of the chairs.

  “She’s gonna be pissed about all of this,” I said.

  Silas stared for a moment and then joined me.

  Only Caspian stood still, almost like a statue, looking even more miserable than before.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Olivia

  Madame Karathos was in when I knocked, and I took a breath, asked for help from any wandering goddess, and went in.

  I told her about my guys. That I would no longer keep secrets from them. That they thought my demon side woke up, and I wanted to know if she thought they were right. Was that a good or bad thing? It didn’t feel bad, but most assholes thought they were heroes. My biological father was a prime example.

  “I must say, I wasn’t expecting all this,” Madame Karathos asked.

  “Well, I’m tired of all the not telling this or that when it’s people who are important to me. You’re included in that, you know,” I said. “I felt you should know about the people I trust.”

  “I thank you for that trust,” Madame Karathos said. “It is mutual.”

  A warm feeling enveloped me, making me feel like I was home. “How’s Katherine?” I remembered I’d wanted to ask about her.

  “She’s good,” Madame Karathos smiled a real smile. “Tired and doesn’t remember much. I told her I found her wandering in the lower levels of the school. I’m not sure what Marbys, or whoever spelled her did, but I don’t know that remembering is the best for her.”

  “It would help us,” I sighed. “But you’re right. It would suck for her.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Something else,” I said, remembering. “Goddess, I should have taken notes. So there have been five people that we know of who have been affected since the hellway showed up, right?” I went down the list. “How did that girl Frannie get back, by the way?” I’d heard it from the guys, but I wanted to see if there was more.

  “Two days after she left, she walked back into the school. She said she was lost in the woods, and she looked like it. She was scratched up, and it seemed as though she’d fallen. She had no memory of what happened.”

  “There has to be a reason he picked them,” I said. When we’d talked about it, me and the guys, something about their suggestion struck me.

  “Such as?”

  I shrugged. “Are they related? Do they have the same power? Have they gotten in trouble for the same thing? I don’t know.” I looked at her. “You’re the one who knows what goes on in your school, remember?”

  Madame Karathos laughed out loud. I couldn’t recall her ever doing that before. “Touché. I’ll look at them more closely. Now you need to leave. I’m overrun with councilors today.”

  “Gladly,” I said. “
Is Councilor Tennyson still here?”

  She nodded.

  “Even more reason to get out of sight,” I got up. “I wish she’d leave.”

  “Are you keeping away from her daughter?”

  “As much as possible,” I said, and I left. I felt so much better for being honest. I went back to my room. Maybe I’d shower and call my mom. I hadn’t talked to her in a couple of weeks. My parents tended to leave me be while I was at school.

  The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. I took a long shower, braided my hair again, wrapping it around my head, and leaving a shorter braid down the back. My mom called it my medieval warrior look. She’d originally called it my fairy-tale princess look, but I’d told her, at age ten, that I didn’t want to be a princess. I wanted to be the prince, because the princes were always fierce warriors.

  That was part of why I wanted to come to Nobledark in the first place. It seemed like a worthwhile way to give back to society. But now? I shook my head. Time for career crises was sometime in the future.

  Mom picked up on the second ring. “Olivia! Sweetie, how are you? It’s been too long! You can’t ignore us like that.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s been kind of crazy here.”

  “Iliana told us,” she said. “Roger! Pick up! Livvy’s on the phone.”

  “Hey, honey,” my dad said.

  “Hi, Dad,” I smiled at hearing his voice. “How much did Iliana tell you?”

  “I’m just going to get it out there,” Mom said. “Are you really dating more than one boy?”

  “Patty,” my dad’s voice held a warning.

  “Well, it’s kind of one of the important things,” Mom said, not sounding sorry in the least. “Is it true?” she asked again.

  “Everything Iliana told you, and that’s your first question?” I laughed. I couldn’t help it, even though talking about my dating life with my parents wasn’t high on my to do list.

  “Yes, indeed,” Mom said. “I want to know about these boys.”

  “They’re amazing,” I said, enjoying the ability to talk about them. “Two of them are brothers, and one—”